They said that Fadnavis is issuing these statements to divert people’s mind from real issues
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement that those who don’t say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ have no right to live in this country has evoked sharp reactions from Muslims. They said that Fadnavis is issuing such statements to divert people’s mind from real issues like drought, unemployment, inflation etc. The Bharat Mata Ki Jai controversy refuses to die down as several political parties has been clarifying their stand on this issue. Politicians have been raking up this issue to divide the nation on communal lines.
Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief imam of the All India Imam Organisation (AIIO said, “No one has a right to decide as to who would live in this country or not. If you force certain things on people then it would give rise to hatred. People on such responsible positions should refrain from making such statement.”
The fatwa issued by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom in Deoband against chanting of “Bharat Mata ki jai” was backed by Jamat-e-Islami (JIH). JIH had said political parties trying to use the slogan as a symbol of patriotism is unjustified.
Darul Uloom Deoband had issued a fatwa against chanting of `Bharat Mata Ki Jai`, saying that the slogan goes against the tenets of Islam. “Bharat Mata, according to some Hindu sects, is a goddess and they worship her. For Muslims participating in worshiping a goddess would be un-Islamic, the fatwa said.
Heena Zaheer, a woman Qazi too came forward in support of the stand taken by Umer Ahmed Ilyasi against chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogan. She said people holding higher positions must study about what is written in the constitution before making controversial statements.
“It is not at all good. The people holding such higher positions in the government need to study the Constitution of India. They should understand that ‘do’s and don’ts’ are set according to the Constitution,” Zaheer said.
“If it was written in the Constitution that we should chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan, we would do that. But that is not the case. Our Constitution is very secular and there is no such policy,” she added.
Ehsan Abbas, a Mira Road resident said, “Chief Minister is issuing these statements to divert people’s mind from real issues. He must first try to focus on improving governance.”
Zeeshan Sayed a Malad resident said, “Mr Fadnavis should give more priority to resolve the water scarcity problem faced by Maharashtra. Already people are facing severe hardships due to the drought in the state. The Chief Minister is only trying to mislead people by issuing such statements.”
Earlier Fadnavis had stirred up a controversy by saying that those who can’t chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ must quit the country. He said, “If you want to live in this country then you have to say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, otherwise you have no right to live here. Some people say we will not say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. Then what? Pakistan ki jai or China ki jai?.”
He added: “Went to a Mazar in Mumbai, hundreds of Muslim priests chanted Bharat Mata ki Jai. Those who say Bharat ke tukde honge will fail.”
Later he took a U turn on this issue and said, “We absolutely have no problem if somebody says ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Jai Bharat’ or ‘Jai Hindustan’.”
All we object about is when someone says, “‘I won’t say Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. There is a limit to appeasement too,” the Maharashtra CM added.
“Those who are opposing it (Bharat Mata ki Jai slogans) have mala fide interests and intentions. They’re those divisive forces who want to create a rift in our country & wish to break the unity. Why should we tolerate it?” said Fadnavis.
